Oklahoma DHS workers won't face furloughs

The director of the state Department of Human Services says he will not implement a previous proposal to furlough department employees four hours a week.

The furlough was part of a plan announced in April to help cut expenditures from the department's budget.

The proposal called for employees to shift to a four-day work week, with most employees working nine hour days and having Fridays off. The employee pay cut would amount to almost 8.8 percent a year. The furlough would have reduced the agency's payroll by about $24 million.

In a memo issued to employees, director Howard Hendricks said the agency will continue to find savings in payroll costs and again offer employees voluntary buyout plans.

A $100 million one-time appropriation from the state Legislature contributed to the director's decision not to recommend furlough as this time, DHS spokeswoman Mary Lever said.

She said 169 employees of the 234 eligible employees have accepted the buyout.